Instructions
Be patient with puppies. Bloodhounds mature more slowly than other breeds and, like most puppies, they will have a lot of energy when young. Bloodhounds also like to jump up on people, which can quickly become a problem when they grow beyond 50 lb. Even before a bloodhound gets set in its ways, it will need constant attention and care from a very patient owner. Bloodhounds usually respond well to crate training -- teaching it to sleep and rest in a crate or cage -- so giving it a crate for a home will improve its indoor behavior.
Keep the dog in a large, confined area. Bloodhounds require a wide open area to live and play in. Adult bloodhounds can make for good indoor animals but even they will need a lot of open running space. Though bloodhounds aren't usually used for tracking anymore, they do have an incredible sense of smell, and if they catch the scent of something interesting they can track it for days across miles. Moreover, when a bloodhound catches a scent, it focuses completely on the trail. Keep your yard fenced in. Bloodhounds are also good diggers, so make sure your fence reaches underground.
Assert your dominance over the dog. Bloodhounds were bred to hunt larger animals and some lingering dominance is still left in their heritage. Training a bloodhound means constantly reminding it who is the boss. Stern (but not harsh) lessons will break it of its bad habits, and rewards will encourage its better ones. This is especially so for puppies. As bloodhounds age they can become friendly, loyal and calm; but only after they know for sure who the dominant figure is. Bloodhounds like to lead when on a walk or run, but a stern command will bring them back in line. Still, you should have it leashed in case it catches a scent and wanders off.
Talk to your dog. Bloodhounds are an intelligent breed and will adjust to a persistent trainer as they age. The most important thing you can do is tell your bloodhound how you feel about what it's doing. Bloodhounds can easily pick up anger or other emotions in their owner's voice, so keep a dialogue with it so it can learn what is good and what is bad behavior. The biggest asset in training a bloodhound is constant attention and reinforcement.
Choose your battles wisely. There are some aspects of a bloodhound that are so deeply entrenched in the breed that they cannot be changed. Bloodhounds have a very loud bark and will bark often at strangers (although they rarely show outright aggression against humans). Bloodhounds can also be difficult with other dogs of the same sex. Getting the attention of a bloodhound while it is smelling something interesting is nearly impossible, and this big, gluttonous breed can eat fast and messily.
How to Train Bloodhounds
The St. Hubert hound, or bloodhound, is one of the oldest breeds of dog on Earth. Bred in Europe first by the French and Belgians, bloodhounds were bred for hunting and tracking, as well as general labor. Bloodhounds are large dogs and can weigh as much as 100 lb. or more. Despite their popular image as lazy and aloof, they're very powerful and can display dominant personalities. However this breed be trained easily enough even by an amateur dog owner with the right approach.